The Beginning of the Daughters of St. Paul

On June 15th we celebrate the foundation of the Daughters of St. Paul. The testimony of Blessed James Alberione and Venerable Mother Thecla Merlo to the humble beginnings of the Institute are moving:

"The Daughters of St. Paul had an even more humble and hidden beginning than the Society of St. Paul. They too came into being without a name, without a house, without anyone being aware of their presence. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. On June 15, 1915, a year after the Little Workers' Typographical School opened, the Institute of the Daughters of St. Paul began. At that time it was called the Feminine Workshop. The Theologian's idea was clear and the path sure, but those looking at things externally would not have been able to grasp the guiding thought behind everything. The Daughters of St. Paul came into being to dedicate their lives to the Good Press, even though they did not have a typography. In fact, they began by making shirts and pants for military suppliers.... When the little world [in which they lived] saw this Institute, it was very disparaging in its judgments. But the world is foolish, even when it thinks it knows what is going on. The [Feminine] Laboratory was opened in the Degiacomi house in Piazza Cherasca--the building vacated by the boys of the Typographical School" (UCBS, 8).

From the writings of Maestra Thecla: "When I met the Theologian [Bl. James Alberione] for the first time, he spoke to me about a new institution of Daughters who would live like sisters but who, for now, would start by working for the soldiers. On my part, I was immediately enthusiastic.... We had complete trust in the Theologian. Our hearts were at peace because we knew we were guided by a good Father who sought only our good" (Our Beginnings, pp. 7,10).

From a circular letter of Blessed James Alberione: "As far back as 1910...you Daughters of St. Paul were thought about, desired, prepared for, brought to life and raised.... Remember your beginnings because the purpose for which the Lord called you lies in that concept, as does your name, your program, your duty, your prayer, your path, your heart, your reward" (CVV67).

From a letter of Mother Thecla to the Daughters of St. Paul, Christmas, 1961: "I am praying abundantly for all of you: may we all reach the degree of holiness to which we are called. I write these words to you not only with my pen but also with my heart. I want you all to become saints: for this I have offered my life--that we may all reach the degree of holiness the Lord wants of us."

Our prayer life is the source of our energy and joy. We gather daily for morning and evening prayer, and we start each morning with a half hour meditation on the Word of God. Scripture is the privileged source of all our prayer and like Mary, the first disciple of Jesus, we ponder God’s Word...

Generally, we know a young woman at least a year before her entrance, so that the young woman can freely discern how God is calling her. During this time of discernment, the young woman and the vocation director are in frequent contact, and the young woman usually visits our community...

The communities of the Daughters of St. Paul are very joyful places, and we have fun in many different ways. We enjoy each other’s presence at meals each day, but our interests and hobbies vary widely: from watching movies to sketching, from basketball to board-games, from playing musical...

There is no typical day for a Daughter of St. Paul—it depends on the needs of the mission, the situations of each community, and the sister’s apostolic responsibilities. However, every day for a Daughter of St. Paul usually includes: early rising, a half-hour meditation, morning prayer, evening...

Postulants usually spend three weeks each summer at home with their families. Professed sisters have two weeks of vacation each year, in addition to a week of retreat (usually made together at our St. Thecla retreat house near Boston). Many sisters spend their vacation time at home with their...

God works individually with each one of us, so every sister would probably answer this question differently. If you asked a happily married couple: “How did you know it was him?”, or “How did you know it was her?”, no two answers would be exactly the same. Each sister’s vocation story is also...

What vows do the Daughters of St. Paul make and what is uniquely Pauline about how they're lived?

The Daughters of St. Paul live the evangelical counsels, or vows, of chastity, poverty, and obedience in a way that transforms our ordinary communication to become always more a communication of love...

Each religious congregation has a unique identity that is formed by its founders, its history, its charism (spirituality and mission), and its members. The life of a Daughter of St. Paul is distinctive in several ways...

Do Daughters of St. Paul all work in one type of ministry, or can they do different things?

As a Daughter of St. Paul, communication is not just something we do, it is who we are. How we each carry out our mission as communicators of Christ varies widely, depending on the needs of the people we serve and the...

The Daughters of St. Paul are a community of vowed women religious who dedicate their lives to sharing the mystery of Christ’s love with the people of today through the media. God has chosen, called, and consecrated each Daughter of St. Paul to himself so that he might send her to proclaim...

What should I do if I am interested in becoming a Daughter of St. Paul?

The first thing to do is to inquire. Contact the vocation director by phone, e-mail or mail. You might find it helpful to set up a time to talk in person or on the phone. In your conversation, the vocation director will provide you with information that will help you in your discernment...